N.E.R.D. lit up Times Square today like it was New Year's Eve, performing a free Honda-sponsored concert of three party-starting tracks—two from their new album,
Nothing, currently slated for release October 19th, and one from their 2001 debut, "Lapdance." Before the show, EW caught up with Pharrell Williams to talk about his upcoming album, plans for the future, and why he calls America's youth the "microwave generation."
What can we expect from your new album, Nothing?
At first, the album was called Instant Gratification, and it was good, but not good enough. It was our answer to this generation, which we have nicknamed the "microwave generation": The Microwavers. Even though the microwave is old technology, it actually happens to be the mentality of all the people on the planet right now. Especially the kids—they want it now and they want it hot. They don't want it ten minutes from now. With Nothing, we feel like we're reflecting society
You guys have incorporated a lot of musical influences into your previous albums—not just hip-hop, but some '70s funk and glam rock—how would you describe the sound of Nothing?
N.E.R.D. represents music that transcends time. If you go back and listen to the first N.E.R.D. album, you're like "What is that? Okay, interesting." And after the third listen you're hooked. This album sounds like it came out of the late 60s/early 70s. It calls to mind the Doors, Crosby, Stills & Nash, America, a little bit of Neil Young, there's a Queen moment, there's a Moody Blues moment. It's
"baba cool," like the French term. It's posh, it's Bohemian, and it's fashion and art.
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